NCJ Number
75085
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The problem of female juvenile delinquency in Japan is discussed, with special emphasis on female shoplifting in Tokyo.
Abstract
Since World War II, female juvenile delinquency has increased significantly. In 1977, 69.1 percent of the female offenders committed theft; 7.7 percent, acts of negligence resulting in death or bodily injury at jobs; 6.6 percent, status offenses; and 6.2 percent, glue sniffing. In that year, 66.8 percent of the female delinquents who appeared before the Tokyo Family Court had been arrested for theft, with most offenses involving shoplifting. Nearly all of these were junior or senior high school students and first offenders whose average age was 16. Their shoplifting was concentrated between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. when most students return home from school; over 50 percent of the crimes were committed in supermarket-type stores where direct human relations between offenders and victims do not exist. About 70 percent of the offenses were committed in groups. The shoplifters had fewer social problems than other delinquent types, and their rate of broken families was the same as that for nondelinquent youths. A 1977 survey of 305 first offenders revealed that 22.9 percent simply wanted to imitate others in a group and that 17.7 percent aimed to satisfy their wants. The family atmosphere in 70 percent of the cases was viewed as 'harmonious and ordinary,' and fathers' attitudes were most often viewed as noninterfering. In addition, a majority of the offenders were performing poorly in their schools. Recommendations for family court treatment include identifying the problems facing offenders as early as possible, and providing advice and guidance to both the delinquents and their parents. Data tables are provided.